Rally-X
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =
| above = Rally-X
| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image={{#invoke:WikidataIB |getValue|rank=best|P18 |name=image |qid= |suppressfields= |fetchwikidata=ALL |onlysourced=no |noicon=yes|Rallyx-arcade-flyer.jpg}}|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|border=|suppressplaceholder=yes}}
| caption = {{#if:Rallyx-arcade-flyer.jpg|Arcade flyer|Arcade flyer}}
| label2 = Developer(s) | data2 = Namco
| label3 = Publisher(s) | data3 = Template:Vgrelease
| label4 = Director(s) | data4 = Template:If first display both
| label5 = Producer(s) | data5 = Template:If first display both
| label6 = Designer(s) | data6 = Hirohito Ito
| label7 = Programmer(s) | data7 = Template:Ubl
| label8 = Artist(s) | data8 = Hiroshi Ono<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| label9 = Writer(s) | data9 = Template:If first display both
| label10 = Composer(s) | data10 = Toshio Kai
| label11 = Series | data11 =
| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both
| label13 = Platform(s) | data13 = Arcade, MSX, VIC-20, Sharp X1, Fujitsu FM-7, MZ-1500
| label14 = Release | data14 = Template:Video game release
| label15 = Genre(s) | data15 = Maze
| label16 = Mode(s) | data16 = Single-player, 2 players alternating
| label17 = Arcade system | data17 = Template:If first display both
| data30 =
| below = Template:EditOnWikidata
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Template:Nihongo is a maze chase arcade video game developed in Japan and Germany by Namco and released in 1980. In North America, it was distributed by Midway Manufacturing and in Europe by Karateco. Players drive a blue Formula One race car through a multidirectional scrolling maze to collect yellow flags. Boulders block some paths and must be avoided. Red enemy cars pursue the player in an attempt to collide with them. Red cars can be temporarily stunned by laying down smoke screens at the cost of fuel. Rally-X is one of the first games with bonus stages and continuously-playing background music.
Rally-X was designed as a successor to Sega's Head On (1979), an earlier maze chase game with cars. It was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the sixth highest-grossing game of 1980, but Midway Manufacturing released the game in North America to largely underwhelming results. The game is known in North America for an often-repeated, though untrue, story involving its demonstration at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Association trade show, where the attending press believed Rally-X was of superior quality than the other games presented, specifically Pac-Man. Though it was well-received by attendees, Rally-X failed to attract much attention during its presentation.
Reception for Rally-X, both at release and retrospectively, has highlighted its technological accomplishments and high difficulty. Some reviewers have found it to be influential and ahead of its time. Rally-X received several remakes and sequels, beginning with the slightly tweaked New Rally-X in 1981. It is also included in several Namco compilations.
GameplayEdit
Rally-X is a maze chase game where the player controls a blue Formula One racecar. The objective is to collect yellow flags that are scattered around an enclosed maze while avoiding collision with red-colored cars that pursue the player.<ref name="Allgame"/> Mazes scroll in the four cardinal directions and are clustered with dead ends, long corridors, and stationary boulders that are harmful to the player.<ref name="Allgame"/><ref name="RGamer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each level contains ten flags that increase their point value when collected in succession.<ref name="CashBox"/> One of the flags is a "Special Flag", indicated by an S next to it, which doubles the value of each flag collected thereafter.<ref name="RGamer"/><ref name="CashBox">Template:Cite news</ref> The player can temporarily stun the red cars with smoke screens, which depletes a portion of their fuel meter at the right of the screen.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref name="RGamer"/> The meter constantly depletes the longer the player takes in a level, and acts as a timer.<ref name="RGamer"/> As the game progresses, more red cars are added and become more aggressive.<ref name="RGamer"/>
The player has a radar beneath their fuel meter, which displays their current position on the map as well as the location of the flags and red cars.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The third level and every fourth thereafter is a bonus round (called a "Charanging Stage"), where the objective is to collect the flags in a certain amount of time. In these bonus rounds, the red cars remain idle and will not chase the player unless their fuel is empty.
Development and releaseEdit
Rally-X was created by Namco and designed by Hirohito Ito, with hardware developed by Kouichi Tashiro.<ref name="Szczepaniak">Template:Cite book</ref> It was produced as a successor to Head On (1979), an older arcade game from Sega that similarly involved collecting items in a maze while avoiding enemy cars that pursued the player.<ref name="Smith"/> Head On was a popular title in Japanese arcades, which gave Namco the idea of creating a game that built on its mechanics.<ref name="Gamest2"/> Rally-X was created on a version of the Pac-Man arcade system board that supports multi-directional scrolling. The programming was done by Kazuo Kurosu, who went on to design the multi-directional shooter Bosconian (1981), and featured music from Pac-Man composer Toshio Kai.<ref name="Szczepaniak"/>
Rally-X was first demonstrated in Japan in January 1980,<ref name="MAD1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MAD2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before receiving a wide release on October 3, 1980.<ref name="USCO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When preparing to release the game overseas, Namco believed Rally-X had more foreign appeal than Pac-Man with its audiovisual presentation and challenge, which it believed American audiences would prefer to the simplicity and "cuteness" present in Pac-Man.<ref name="Smith">Template:Cite book</ref> Namco presented Rally-X at the 1980 Amusement & Music Operators Union (AMOA) tradeshow in Chicago, Illinois, alongside Pac-Man, King & Balloon, and Tank Battalion. An often-repeated story is that out of the games presented, specifically Pac-Man, the attending industry analysists believed Rally-X was the stand-out and the one destined to be successful.<ref name="Allgame"/><ref name="PDF"/> Though it received praise from the press,<ref name="PMeter 1"/> Rally-X did not attract much attention during the event.<ref name="Smith"/> According to Play Meter magazine, both Pac-Man and Rally-X received mild attention at the show.<ref name="PM94">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Midway Manufacturing, the video game division of Bally Manufacturing, agreed to distribute Rally-X and Pac-Man in North America. Dave Marofske, the president of Midway, believed the two had the most potential out of the four Namco games presented. Midway released Rally-X in North America in February 1981 in upright, tabletop, and cabaret cabinet variations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
ConversionsEdit
A home conversion of Rally-X was released for the VIC-20 in Japan in 1981. The port was developed by HAL Laboratory and published by the Japanese division of Commodore International.<ref name="RGamer VIC">Template:Cite news</ref> Due to licensing restrictions, HAL changed the game's characters to mice and cats and released it in North America as Radar Rat Race.<ref name="RGamer VIC"/> Namco released a port for the MSX in 1984 that adopted the gameplay of New Rally-X,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which was released in Europe by Argus Press Software under the Bug-Byte name.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dempa Shinbun developed versions for the Fujitsu FM-7, MZ-1500, and Sharp X1 computers in Japan the same year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Rally-X remained relatively obscure for many years until 1995, when it was included in the PlayStation compilation Namco Museum Vol. 1 along with six other Namco arcade games.<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="PDF"/> The port uses a JAMMA emulator running the source code of the original, making it a near-perfect conversion.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Rally-X has been included in several Namco compilations including Namco History Vol. 2 (1997),<ref name="PCW">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Microsoft Revenge of Arcade (1998), Namco Museum Battle Collection (2005),<ref name="Battle">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Namco Museum 50th Anniversary (2005), Namco Museum Virtual Arcade (2008),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Namco Museum Megamix (2010).<ref name="IGN Megamix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1996, Rally-X was re-released for arcades as part of Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It has also appeared in several Namco "plug'n play" game controllers from Jakks Pacific. Rally-X is also included in both Pac-Man’s Arcade Party (2010)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash (2019).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, Rally-X saw a digital release under the Arcade Archives label for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
ReceptionEdit
The game was a commercial success in Japan, where it became the sixth highest-grossing arcade game of 1980, and Namco's third highest that year below Pac-Man and Galaxian.<ref name="GM159">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In contrast, the game was not as successful in North America. By July 1981, Midway had sold 2,500 Rally-X arcade machines, significantly less than the company's other releases at the time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dick Pearson of RePlay highlighted its colorful visuals and sound effects in a preview from the tradeshow, comparing its gameplay favorably to Pac-Man and writing that it "shows promise as an entertaining maze video game".<ref name="PMeter 1">Template:Cite news</ref> A writer for Cash Box provided similar comments, further applauding its scoring system and layer of strategy.<ref name="CashBox"/> In 1991, Gamest listed it as being a "masterpiece" alongside New Rally-X, and believed its underwhelming critical and commercial reception was attributed to it being ahead of its time. Staff considered it a successor to Head On, as well as being influential for the maze genre.<ref name="Gamest1">Template:Cite book</ref>
In his review of Namco Museum Vol. 1, Computer and Video Games Ed Lomas said Rally-X was fun at first, but quickly became repetitive and suffered from poor movement controls.<ref name="CVG">Template:Cite news</ref> Brett Alan Weiss of AllGame was similarly mixed in his review from 1998, where he claimed its only noteworthy aspects were the "merciless" difficulty and smoke screen weapon. Weiss found its visuals and sounds to only be "merely functional", and secondary to the difficult level.<ref name="Allgame"/> IGN staff contrasted their statements, and believed Rally-X, like the other games in Vol. 1, holds up well today.<ref name="IGN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was listed among the greatest arcade games by Gamest readers in 1998, being selected for its innovation and evolution on the traditional gameplay of maze chase action games.<ref name="Gamest2">Template:Cite book</ref>
Rally-X has continued to earn praise in retrospective commentary.<ref name="EuroG"/><ref name="RGamer"/><ref name="PDF"/> Writing for Eurogamer in 2007, Sir Clive believed the game was unique enough to discern it from Pac-Man and similar maze-chasers. He identified its high difficulty and design, and that it gave an adrenaline rush to players. Clive commented: "When you are playing the game, just imaging a yellow circle where your car is and repeat the mantra 'wakawakawakawaka' as you play and you will start to see just how huge this game could have been".<ref name="EuroG"/> Retro Gamer staff were positive towards its colorful graphics, smooth scrolling, and increasing level of difficulty, writing it makes for a unique derivative of Pac-Man and was worth playing in its own right.<ref name="RGamer"/> Phosphor Dot FossilsTemplate:'s Earl Green found its gameplay addictive and commented on its similarities to Pac-Man. Green believes Rally-X failed to catch on as it lacked Pac-ManTemplate:'s abstract characters and design, and was too similar to other driving games from the era.<ref name="PDF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
LegacyEdit
Rally-X is credited as being one of the first games to feature continuous background music<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a bonus round, predating Sega's Carnival,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which was released in June 1980.<ref name="Famitsu">Template:Cite book</ref>
In response to player feedback from the original, Namco released a sequel named New Rally-X in 1981, which was designed to improve on the original's flaws and make it easier for newcomers.<ref name="Gamest2"/> It also adds a "Lucky Flag" that awards bonus points based on how much fuel remains.<ref name="Allgame New">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> New Rally-X has been seen as an improvement over the original and has been ported to several consoles and compilations, such as mobile phones and the Xbox 360.<ref name="Allgame New"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rally-X Arrangement, included in Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 (1996), is a remake of the original that implements power-ups and new enemy types.<ref name="CVG"/> A similar game titled New Rally-X Arrangement is included in Namco Museum Battle Collection (2005).<ref name="Battle"/> The 2007 Wii game Namco Museum Remix and its 2010 update Namco Museum Megamix include a 3D remake named Rally-X Remix, which replaces the player's car with Pac-Man.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IGN Megamix"/> Namco Bandai Games released a sequel for iOS in 2011, Rally-X Rumble, that uses a neon-inspired graphical motif in the style of Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (2010) and is designed as a multiplayer battle royale game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Special Flag has become a symbol for Namco and has made frequent appearances in games, usually as an item that awards an extra life. It has appeared in games such as Xevious (1983),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Gaplus (1984),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tinkle Pit (1994),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tales of Phantasia (1995),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Xevious Resurrection (2009),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U (2014),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Namco Bandai's "game consulting" service, which provides insight on the company's design philosophies to clients, is named Special Flag,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> as are its indoor restaurants located in its VR Zone amusement centers. Merchandise such as enamel pins and keychains featuring the Special Flag have also been produced.<ref name="PCW"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:KLOV game
- Rally-X at the Arcade History database